Oh, Canada! The Entertainment Software Association of Canada (ESAC) has published a wonderful study exploring how a dozen different businesses and organizations use gaming to benefit their industries and communities, including mental health, education, and technology.
The published study is called Beyond Entertainment: The Transformative Power of Video Games. The full 28-page PDF can be downloaded on the ESAC website. The study was conducted by research firm Nordicity.
Video game’s positive role in education and classrooms is profiled through three organizations.
Prodigy Island (designed by Prodigy Education) turns math questions into a Pokémon-like battler. By solving questions, players power-up their pets and defeat their foes. Adaptive gameplay adjusts to each child’s skill level and supports 1st to 8th grade levels. It’s free for teachers and educators, with optional paid memberships for parents.
Play to Learn is a game design program that focuses on middle school students. It explores careers in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) and how those skills can be applied in numerous fields and careers.
Shoelace Learning leans on existing successful games and formulas in mobile gaming to create its suite of educational games. Its biggest games are base-builder Dreamscape (inspired by Clash of Clans), and endless runner Dreamseeker Drift. Shoelance has nearly seven million registered users and has special tools and support for teachers.
Other highlighted examples include Virtual Gym’s use of virtual reality to promote exercise for seniors, and game developer Ludic Mind Studio’s exploration of mental health conditions.
“The video game industry is first and foremost an entertainment business, but the world-leading technology can also be used to develop products and services that go beyond entertainment,” said Jayson Hilchie, president and CEO, ESAC. “This report shows how important the video game industry is to a thriving innovation ecosystem and how these technologies can impact multiple areas of society.”
